Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs Drafted in First Round by Detroit Lions

Gibbs becomes the 14th Alabama running back drafted in the Saban era.

Jahmyr Gibbs now has the opportunity to continue on the great legacy of Alabama running backs in the NFL. 

Gibbs was taken 12th overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions Thursday night. This was much higher than most projections had for the running back. 

This marks the third Alabama player taken in the first 12 picks after Bryce Young went No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers and Will Anderson was picked third by the Houston Texans. 

He only spent one season in Tuscaloosa after transferring in from Georgia Tech, but Gibbs made a big impact for the Crimson Tide. He led the Crimson Tide in rushing with 926 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Gibbs was also one of Bryce Young's favorite targets out of the backfield with 444 receiving yards and three more touchdowns through the air. 

The running back joins a slew of Crimson Tide players in Detroit including defensive end Isaiah Buggs, offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher, cornerback Savion Smith and wide receiver Jameson Williams, who will be suspended for the first six games of the season. 

Gibbs becomes the 14th Alabama running back drafted in the Saban Era and 44th first round draft pick. He is the highest-drafted running back since Trent Richardson went No. 3 overall in 2012.

Alabama Running Back Jahmyr Gibbs

NFL Combine/Workout Details

Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

No. 13
Position: Running back
Height: 5091
Weight: 199
Hand: 0928
Arm: 3048
Wing: 7418
40: 4.36
DOB: 3/20/2002
Hometown: Dalton, Ga.
High School: Dalton

40-Yard Dash: 4.36 seconds
10-Yard Split: 1.52 seconds
Vertical Jump: 33.5’’

What's Being Said About Jahmyr Gibbs

Alabama Athletics

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: While Gibbs might not be the engine of an NFL running game, he’s more than capable of adding juice to the offense. He’s a slasher who can stretch defenses wide, and he has the wiggle to elude tacklers in space. However, he could see his effectiveness diminished inside. Gibbs might be better off with a more measured carry count as an RB2, but his versatility and pass-catching prowess will give creative play-callers an opportunity to exploit certain personnel groupings and find mismatches in space.

NFL Draft Bible: Fluid body with ample mass for the position. Occupies athleticism scarcely seen. Plus ability in quickness, balance, acceleration, agility, and speed. Seldom if ever taken down by the first defender. Plays chess with tacklers, leaving them guessing his skill move. Impossible to take down in the open field thanks to his athletic prowess and functional strength. Flexibility analogous to Gumby, with buttery ankles and hips. Competitive demeanor not to be questioned, fighting for yards in a scrap. More than a shifty guy, with deceptive power and a ruthless stiff arm. Elite lower body strength when taken pound for pound. Contact balance and feet are not to be trifled with. Not just a wide zone runner with between-the-tackles capability. Adept in both gap and zone schemes. Comfortable vision, hitting cutbacks with enthusiasm by way of exceptional acceleration. Can and will hit a second gear in the open field. Sophisticated in the passing game, running a plethora of routes. Soft hands with a smooth stride out of the catch point.

Primary concerns are pass protection and usage. Limited reps in pass pro at Georgia Tech, with obvious flaws when tasked. Was the focal point of the offense his freshman and sophomore year, handling the ball second-most to only the quarterback. Gibbs is one of the more well-rounded players in college, with acumen and skillset affluent in terms of capability. If he can prove his durability and clean up his pass pro.

Michael Fabiano, SI: Gibbs isn’t the biggest back at 5’11” and 200 pounds, but he’s versatile (44 catches in 2022) and an explosive runner. In fact, NFL Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson has compared him to Chris Johnson. While he might not become a three-down NFL back, Gibbs could emerge as a PPR machine if he lands with the right team. He’d be a nice fit with the Eagles or Miami Dolphins.

BamaCentral Analysis

Alabama Athletics

The first thing that teams have to figure out regarding Gibbs is whether or not they consider him to be an every-down running back, or more of a complementary weapon. If they decide the latter, many of the teams that would be most likely to take him are picking near the end of the first round. That's partly why you see you'll see him anywhere from late first round to late second round in mock drafts. what may be the best situation for Gibbs is if he was selected to be a third-down specialist with a chance to grow into a starting role. Either way, he should hear his name called either Day 1 or 2 of the draft, especially after running the 40 in 4.36 seconds at the NFL combine.

Alabama Crimson Tide 2023 NFL Draft Tracker